9 Day Highlands, Isle of Mull & St Andrews

Today is a fabulous introduction to the Scottish landscape and local culture, starting with a visit to ‘The Kelpies’ to stand amongst these towering sculptures. Moving on, we pause near Stirling to get an overview of the area and understand the important medieval battles that took place here. Later, we take in the mountains, glens and lochs of the Trossachs National Park and before traveling past Loch Awe to the bustling seaside town of Oban for the afternoon ferry to Mull. 

Wake to the rugged beauty of the Isle of Mull with the natural beauty of the rugged cliffs, silver-sand beaches, dramatic mountains, ancient forests, and flowering machair. After breakfast, enjoy pick up from your accommodation and transfer to Duart Castle for your family reunion. Drop off back at your accommodation (between the hours of approx. 9:00 and 18:00). 

After breakfast we take the ferry back to the mainland, docking in Oban town. We tour north along the coast and spend the afternoon taking in the sights of Glencoe with spectacular scenery and bloody history. If the ferry timetable allows, we will have time to do some further sightseeing on Mull before we depart. 

Step aboard the Jacobite Steam Train, now famous as the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express, which travels along part of the West Highland Railway, built to help open up this remote part of the Scottish coast. The train journey provides wonderful views across the Sound of Arisaig to the Small Isles of Eigg and Rhum. After lunch in Mallaig we take the ferry “Over the Sea to Skye” and visit Armadale Castle & Gardens.

After breakfast we head out for a tour of the Isle of Skye, passing through Broadford and on to the main settlement on the Island, Portree, with its colourful harbour front and interesting shops. After lunch, tour through the rugged Trotternish Peninsula and take in the views at Uig, the Old Man of Storr, and Kilt Rock Falls before travelling back down the island for the evening.

After breakfast, enjoy a spectacular visit to iconic Eilean Donan Castle before travelling through Glen Shiel to the charming village of Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness. We’ll stop for lunch here with a chance to look around before moving on to travel the length of the loch. The afternoon is spent visiting Culloden Battlefield to learn about the Highlanders last stand against the British Government. 

After breakfast, we tour south through the Cairngorms National Park stopping to admire the oldest pack-horse bridge in the highlands at Carrbridge, then onto highland Perthshire to enjoy a stroll through Pitlochry’s high street to experience the array of interesting shops and cafes here. After lunch, we visit the beautiful village of Dunkeld before we tour east to the historic town of St. Andrews for the evening. 

We spend the day in the Kingdom of Fife. Enjoy St Andrews town known worldwide as the "Home of Golf". Enjoy some free time exploring the medieval centre of St Andrews, consisting of narrow alleys and cobbled streets with shops, restaurants and cafés. You may wish to also view the interesting ruins of St Andrews Castle and the now ruined Cathedral. Golfing guests can play a round of golf here (to be arranged). 

This morning we leave St Andrews, stopping in the traditional fishing village of St Monans for a walk around the harbour before touring south to walk through the cobbled street of South Queensferry with fine views across to the famous Forth Rail Bridge. After lunch, spend the afternoon visiting Edinburgh Castle - a world famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.